Pistons at Knicks
THE STORY: The New York Knicks are no longer unbeaten under Mike Woodson. They'll attempt to start a new winning streak when they host the Detroit Pistons on Saturday. New York suffered a 17-point road loss to the Toronto Raptors after winning its first five games after Woodson replaced fired Mike D’Antoni as coach. Detroit has lost four consecutive contests and five of six games after losing to the Miami Heat on Friday.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Detroit, MSG (New York)
ABOUT THE PISTONS (16-31): Detroit has four games left in a stretch in which it plays nine of 10 on the road. That would be a troublesome span for many teams but it is especially treacherous for the Pistons, who are just 4-19 on the road. Detroit doesn’t play at home against until March 31 and any chance of making a late playoff push has been squashed. Guard Rodney Stuckey has missed the past two games with a big toe injury and is questionable to play against New York.
ABOUT THE KNICKS (23-25): After scoring 21 or more points in the final four games of D’Antoni’s tenure, forward Carmelo Anthony has scored 12 or fewer points three times in six games under Woodson. Anthony’s high game is 17 points during the span as he appears intent on sideswiping opinions that he’s not a team player. New York averaged 111 points in Woodson’s first four games but the Knicks tallied just 82 while beating the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday and 79 in the loss to Toronto.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. New York won the first two meetings with Detroit and is looking to sweep the Pistons for the first time since the 1995-96 campaign.
2. Pistons guard Ben Gordon had just 10 points against Miami two nights after scoring 45 and going 9-for-9 from 3-point range against Denver.
3. Knicks guard Jeremy Lin has made just seven of 26 shots over the past two games.